Breakout game for Marlies' Colborne

Marlies Joe Colborne, seen here playing of the Leafs against the Buffalo Sabres, has been in a massive scoring slump. So two assists in the Marlie's opening playoff game was cause to celebrate. (GETTY IMAGES)

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Marlies’ centre Joe Colborne still hasn’t scored in two months, but his first multi-assist game in weeks was a cause for some fist-pumping on Thursday night in the 4-3 series-opening win over Rochester.

“That’s a big night for a young man who has lost a lot of sleep here the past 20 games,” coach Dallas Eakins said. “He was very concerned about it.

“We’ve tried everything, yelled at him, hugged him, shown him video of his first five or six games (when he started out as AHL rookie of the month). And he’s tried everything, too. I’m glad he put a couple of points up and hopefully it makes for bigger days ahead.”

TWO’S A CROWD

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is still taking a wait and see approach with the idea of a new $325 million arena in Markham, which could one day threaten its NHL monopoly on the GTA.

Some details of the project were outlined Friday afternoon, but MLSE had heard talk like this before regarding arena projects and has held off commenting on the potential of a territorial settlement with a shifting NHL team or an expansion franchise.

“This is the first public meeting about the proposed facility plans,” noted executive vice-president and COO Tom Anselmi. “We are not familiar with the facility concept or its potential viability as a venue in Markham.”

3-D VISION

Nicknaming the Marlies’ third line as The 3D or the Three D’Amigos is almost a no-brainer. Nicolas Deschamps, Philippe Dupuis and Jerry D’Amigo played very well together in Game 1, combining on the first goal. D’Amigo replaced Marcel Mueller on the wing because of his penalty killing ability.

But D’Amigo still calls the line The French Connection in deference to his two Quebecois mates. He also took French in school for three years and the Binghamton, N.Y., native isn’t shy at joining a conversation with the other two.